Behavioral Health Admissions Counselor

TrustPoint Hospital•Murfreesboro, TN

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Behavioral Health Admissions Counselor is responsible for facilitating admissions, clinical intake assessments, and utilization review processes to ensure continuity of care at the most appropriate level for patients, while also managing their benefit/resource utilization. This role involves responding to inquiries, developing therapeutic relationships, performing benefit eligibility checks, collaborating with medical and psychiatric personnel, and coordinating admissions and transfers. The counselor must maintain knowledge of milieu management, communicate projected admissions, and ensure all necessary clinical information is received prior to admission. They will also conduct pre-admission assessments, consult with physicians, and prepare medical record documentation for payor authorization. The position requires completing initial pre-authorization, admitting patients into the system, and completing all admission and consent forms. A positive, empathetic, and professional attitude is essential, along with the ability to resolve complaints and prioritize patient safety. The role also includes coordinating care for patients not being admitted and conducting safety checks as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in a social services field required (if state allows).
CPR and de-escalation/restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in a social services field (psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, health administration, nursing) or RN preferred.
One or more years’ experience in mental/behavioral health working with individuals in a clinical or observational capacity preferred.
Current licensure, as preferred for the area of clinical specialty, as designated by the state in which the facility operates.
First aid may be preferred based on state or facility.

Responsibilities

Respond to inquiries about the facility within facility policy timeframes.
Ability to develop therapeutic relationships with patients and families.
Perform benefit eligibility to ensure patient benefits are active at the time of admission.
Communicate benefit eligibility to the business office and the patient or significant other.
Collaborate with facility medical and psychiatric personnel to ensure appropriate recommendations regarding pending referrals.
Coordinate admission and transfer from referral sources and between levels of care within the facility.
Maintain knowledge of milieu management.
Communicate projected admissions to designated internal representatives promptly.
Ensure all clinical information from referral sources or patients (including medical comorbidity information) is received, when possible, prior to patient admission.
Schedule (when applicable) and complete pre-admission assessments, consult with the admitting physician and communicate disposition recommendations to the patient or their family.
Possess skill in preparing and maintaining appropriate medical record documentation that will result in authorization at the level of care being requested of the payor.
Complete initial pre-authorization for treatment and admission prior to admission, when possible, and within payor timeframe guidelines.
Admit the patient to the registration and accounting system.
Complete all admission and consent forms with the patient.
Demonstrate a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude toward customers always.
When patient needs are not met, acknowledge and work to resolve complaints.
Recognize that patient safety is a top priority.
Coordinate care for patients who are not being admitted and ensure that they receive appropriate follow-up care and referrals.
Demonstrate a sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety and provide excellent customer service.
Responsible for conducting safety checks and ensuring that supervision is conducted at 15-minute intervals, as noted in special precautions, or by individualized supervision guidelines as needed.
Perform other functions and tasks as assigned.